The weather still cold, but cloudy. Went to the Office as usual and that part of my time which was not occupied in writing my Journal, was passed in reading Williston. I this morning examined Mr. Pinkney’s Speech upon the Treaty making power—A very able thing and bearing much more highly the marks of careful polish than any thing I have yet read.1 This was a very able man. His power was clouded with a little affectation, but on the whole I incline to the belief that he is more respectable as a Speaker in the eye of the future than any man we have had.

I called to see Mr. Brooks who was this morning exceedingly discouraged. He had conversed with Dr. Swan and had derived little or no consolation from his opinion.2 I am afraid that the case is desperate. Thus the morning passed and I went home. The afternoon was passed in inspecting the Copies of some more letters of my Grandfather, in reading a portion of Demosthenes, and in finishing the copy of my letter to my Father which my wife could not complete. I receive many more interruptions than I wish I did, in the prosecution of my most profitable studies. In the evening after calling at Mrs. Frothingham’s to know how she was, and being informed that she was relieved from her sudden attack I returned home and was just beginning to read Sir Charles Grandison to the Ladies, when Edmund Quincy came in and sat all the evening until quite late. He is quite fond of coming here, and somehow or other, we seldom have a single entirely uninterrupted evening at home.

The morning cloudy with a kind of drizzle which freezing when it reached the pavements made the walking slippery and dangerous. I got down as well as I could and upon arriving safe at the Office went about my usual avocations. This morning was not much interrupted so that upon finishing my usual day’s record, I sat down and read with attention two or three Speeches in Williston—Those of Messrs. McLane and Sergeant on the Missouri Question, and Mr. Hayne’s on the Tariff with Mr. Webster’s on the Greek Question.1 The latter I recollect to have heard. It was an able though perhaps not in itself a proper effort. The question was not in itself one which would pay a man for the 164trouble and risk in raising it. On the whole I was better satisfied with this morning than with any for a long time preceding.

Mr. Farmer called upon me again and being a little impertinent, I ordered him out of the Office, which as I hope will put a stop to his visits. That affair is not yet over. But time enough has passed to make me indifferent about it. Moses Thompson came to present a bill.2 He is a plaisterer whom I have dismissed on account of intemperate habits. He made a charge which I could not settle unless I previously arranged with Mrs. Longhurst. So I told him to postpone it. Returned home and passed the afternoon reading Demosthenes. Mr. Kingman called about the House in Common Street but declined the rent. My Greek was easy. I regretted to hear the despairing account of Mr. Brooks. The case is hopeless.3 The evening came and I went to the usual family Meeting at Chardon’s. Mrs. Frothingham was so sick, she could not go, so that the party contained all it had last time excepting her. It was very agreeable, and we came away early enough for me to read a Chapter of Lord Kaimes.